The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-02-05

trust in COP, his undoubting faith in His
promise, and his ready obedience to His
word. This faith was recognized by COP, as
righteousness, who entered into fellowship
with him, which relation is symbolized by
the confirmation of a covenant. This cove
nant of GoD with Abraham is really the his
torical beginning of the restoration of man.
kind through faith and righteousness. Right
eousness as human characteristic is CORES
pondence to the will of COP, a state or
quality of being answering to the Divine pur-
pose. This was the state of being in which
man was first created in the image of GoD,
but was lost by transgression. By faith and
righteousness mankind may be restored to
| its lost fellowship with GoD, which is condi-
tional upon holiness of heart and life, and in
which fellowship alone happiness is insured.
On account of his faith, which was the Di-
vine equivalent of righteousness and recog-
nized as such, GoD received Abraham into
his fellowship, and entered into covenant re-
lation with him as a symbol of the relation
to be renewed with mankind through the
growth and unfolding of the faith to which
he had attained-'through the righteousness
of faith" Abraham thus becomes ''the ia
Their of all them that believe" the federal
head" of the redeemed humanity. Through
Israel, the seed of Abraham, the covenant
nation, all people should be redeemed to the
worship of COP and blessed. The final hope
of Israel was the Messiah whom GcD would
raise up from His chosen seed to rule the
world in righteousness and truth. JESUS
came into the world as the fulfllment of this
hope of Israel, of the blessing promised to
their father Abraham, and lived life of
perfect faith and fellowship with GoD, his
Father, and taught the way of Divine fellow
ship and life for all mankind, the children of
COP. All who truly believe in JESUS have
fellowship with him and with COP whom he
reveals. His kingdom is a kingdom of faith
and righteousness. Christian believers are
included in the covenant - are children
of the covenant = which COP made with
our father Abraham. They are heirs of
the promise through faith, though they may
not be included among his descendants. The
true children of Abraham are not natural de-
scendants, but spiritual posterity. By
faith, heavenly birth, we enter the family
of the redeemed. True faith is righteous
ness; spiritual righteousness is fellowship
with COP, and the enjoyment of the Divine
fellowship is salvation.
Properly to understand what faith is, and
what it is worth, we must first understand
what is meant by GoD speaking to man. In
this story and in many others, GoD is repre-
scented as holding conversations with men,
and telling them various things in actual
words. 1t needs no proof that this is not
what really takes place, for no man can hear
COPS voice with his outward ears. He speaks
in our conscience. Whenever our duty be-
comes clear to us, then we hear the voice of
COP giving us commands; and whenever we
feel that our true happiness lies In obedience
to this voice, we receive promises from GOD.
Now, if we are firmly convinced that these
commands and these promises are not mere
ly imaginary but are true, then we may be
said to have faith. A man with faith is
in every case something more than a man
without it, for faith is a power that rescue5
him from the tyranny of his sensual nature
and gives him strength to make sacrifices.
All reformers and all the noblest benefac-
tors of mankind have had faith, and one of
the followers of JESUS said in honor of him
that he was 'per feet in faith. "-Dr. III.
Oort, ''The Bible for Learners"
There are some things for which we must
believe in GoD, in order to well-poised
character: that He is; that He is the rewarder
of them that diligently seek Him; that He
reigns; that He is holy; that He requires
truth in the inward parts; that He justly and
mercifully Furnishes unrighteousness and re-
wards righteousness; that He loves mankind
as a Father, and guides them to glorious and
benefcent issues. A genuine faith like this
will "work by love-" will purify the heart,
and will stay the soul in darkness, difficulty,
and doubt.-Reu G. L. Denaarest, d. D., S.
S. HELPER, August, 1880.